Annual Rockford Holiday Weekend Concert Is Livestream This Year

The annual Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts Thanksgiving Weekend concert will be a livestream this year.

For every holiday, my family has traditions. When it comes to Thanksgiving, it's actually a whole weekend. The Wednesday before, there's usually an IceHogs game. Thanksgiving Day is lots of food and football with family. Friday night is the annual Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts Thanksgiving Weekend concert at Veterans Memorial Hall. Saturday is Stroll on State.

That is the usual schedule. The freakiness of 2020 has changed all that. The whole weekend is scrapped and we'll have to come up with some other traditions. I understand change is sometimes good, but I'm not a huge fan of it when forced. Of course, being with my family is number one on that list. Looking past that, it would be a hard decision to figure out which one I'll miss the most. They are all so much fun.

If forced to choose just one, I think I would pick the Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Heart show. I believe it's because I've done that one the most. I actually started going to see Miles over the holiday weekend way back in his Harmony Riley days. That was his old project with his brother, Daxx. Back then, they played on Thanksgiving night at L.T.'s.

He started playing the day after Thanksgiving with his solo band. The first few years were at the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford. With the Rusted Hearts, the crowds grew and they needed a bigger venue. That was the move across the street to Veterans Memorial Hall. It is such a great room for concerts. I've hosted the shows down there for a few years now. It's always a good time.

Unfortunately, like everything else. That event has been canceled for this year. Luckily, the band had an idea. They decided to throw a virtual concert instead for the fans. It will be this Saturday, November 28th (instead of the Friday). They will be broadcasting their full show live from the Castle Theater in Bloomington, Illinois. The music starts at 8 pm, so gather the family around the computer and get ready to rock. For more info, HERE. To purchase tickets, HERE.

Nielsen has kept himself busy during the shutdown. Every Thursday Miles and his wife Kelly Steward do their weekly live "Quaranstream" acoustic show on Facebook, Here. He's been writing new music that he hopes to record in 2021 with the band.

Miles has also released his former project, Harmony Riley, to streaming services for the first time. There's also an E.P. for sale on his website. The Rusted Hearts will have some new merchandise available just in time for the holidays too. For more info, HERE.

If you're a fan of Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts or any other band, please make sure you support them during these difficult times. They make most of their money by touring and they haven't been able to do it at all this year. Get the livestream concerts and pick up some merch.

I interview Miles Nielsen this morning on my show. If you missed it, you can check out the podcast of it, HERE.

Video: Rare acoustic performance "Heavy Metal" Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts without Miles